The biggest issue I have with the NASCAR Cup series schedule is that there is no enough variety. Of the current 36 cup races that make up the schedule, 13 of them are your standard 1.5 mile track. Not just that, but Las Vegas, Chicago, Kansas and Kentucky, which make up 6 of those races, are very similar in shape and layout. I personally don't have anything against these standard 1.5 mile tracks, except for the fact that in the last decade or so, the cars have be come increasing difficult to pass with, especially with regards to the leader, and therefore, while you can find plenty of side-by-side racing and passing throughout the field, it's difficult to pass the leader once he get out front in clean air.
I think adding more variety in terms of road courses is the way to go. NASCAR took a step in the right direction by running the roval at Charlotte in the fall. It adds a 3rd road race to the schedule and they finally shook up the schedule a tiny tad. I think both moves will prove beneficial. But I say we need to take it a step farther. My schedule proposes adding the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park to the schedule. Both road courses have proven to add excitement to the Xfinity and Truck series the last several years. Don't believe me? Take a look at what happened at Canadian Tire in the truck series race in 2016.
That's not the only example, there are several others of exciting finishes and moments in both the Xfinity series and Truck series races at both tracks. I think adding both to the Cup schedule would be terrific.
I also think NASCAR needs to get back to grouping the short tracks together at the beginning of the season. Back decades ago NASCAR would schedule Bristol, North Wilkesboro and Martinsville in 3 straight races prior to going to Talladega. It added great excitement because tempers would flare and pay back would be dished out the following weekend. Drivers didn't have to wait weeks to get their revenge.
Another change my proposed schedule puts into place taking the All-Star Race and putting it on rotation among the different tracks similar to how the MLB All-Star Game gets moved around to different cities and ballparks each year. It allows for new experiences for the city, players and fans. NASCAR could take a huge lesson in that. Could you imagine the All-Star Race being at Martinsville or Talladega? Would be pretty cool.
I also think the beginning of the schedule is screwed up just a bit. I think the west coast swing needs to happen right after Daytona and Texas needs to be included and they need to schedule the races so that they gradually work their way back east each weekend. That would also give us a few more weeks for it to warm up in Atlanta and potentially have better weather.
Speaking of Martinsville, how epic would it be if the championship race was held at Martinsville? It would be out of this world. All the beating and banging, the strategy involved and everything else with the championship on the line? Unforgetable.
Now, based on the 2018 dates, I present to you my NASCAR Cup series schedule which features 5 road course races, 7 Saturday night races and 2 Sunday night races.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Sat. Feb. 10. - The Clash - Daytona
- Sun. Feb. 11 - Daytona 500 Qualifying - Daytona
- Thu. Feb. 15 - Duels at Daytona - Daytona
- Sun. Apr. 1 - OFF WEEKEND (Easter)
- Sat. May. 19 - All-Star Race (Rotating Schedule)
- Sun. Jun. 17 - OFF WEEKEND (Father's Day)
- Sun. Sep. 9 - OFF WEEKEND
- Sun. Feb. 18 - Daytona International Speedway
- Sun. Feb. 25 - Auto Club Speedway (Fontana)
- Sun. Mar. 4 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Sun. Mar. 11 - ISM Raceway (Phoenix)
- Sun. Mar. 18 - Texas Motor Speedway
- Sun. Mar. 25 - Atlanta Motor Speedway
- Sun. Apr. 8 - Bristol Motor Speedway
- Sun. Apr. 15 - Martinsville Speedway
- Sat. Apr. 21 - Richmond Raceway
- Sun. Apr. 29 - Talladega Superspeedway
- Sun. May 6 - Dover International Speedway
- Sat. May 12 - Kansas Speedway
- Sun. May 27 - Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Sun. Jun. 3 - Pocono Raceway
- Sun. Jun. 10 - Michigan International Speedway
- Sun. Jun. 24 - Sonoma Raceway
- Sun. Jul. 1 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
- Sat. Jul. 7 - Daytona International Speedway
- Sat. Jul. 14 - Kentucky Speedway
- Sun. Jul. 22 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway
- Sun. Jul. 29 - Chicagoland Speedway
- Sun. Aug. 5 - Watkins Glen International
- Sun. Aug. 12 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
- Sun. Aug. 19 - Michigan International Speedway
- Sat. Aug. 25 - Bristol Motor Speedway
- Sun. Sep. 2 - Darlington Raceway
- Sat. Sep. 15 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Sat. Sep. 21 - Richmond International Speedway
- Sun. Sep. 30 - Talladega Superspeedway
- Sun. Oct. 7 - Charlotte Motor Speedway (Roval)
- Sun. Oct. 14 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Sun. Oct. 21 - ISM Raceway (Phoenix)
- Sun. Oct. 28 - Kansas Speedway
- Sun. Nov. 4 - Texas Motor Speedway
- Sun. Nov. 11 - Homestead-Miami Speedway
- Sun. Nov. 18 - Martinsville Speedway
